Direction-signaling device



Patented Apr. 12,1921,

E. H.- HEBERN.

DIRECTIONv SIGNALING DEVFCE. A PxLlcATxoN FILED sf-:PT.26,1 916.

NORRISFEIERS. INCA. LITND.. WSHINGON. D. C4

UNITED STATES EDWARD H. HEBERN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

DIRECTION-SIGNALING DEVICE.

i T0 all w hom t 'may 'concern Be it known that I, EDWARD II. Hannan,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the vcounty ofAlameda and 1 State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Direction-Signaling Devices, of which the vfollowing isa specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in devices forpreindicating the fact that a driver of a vvehicle is about to turn thesame, and the directionV in which he is going to turn.

One object of the invention'y is to provide a device ofthis character,which can be operated voluntarily from the ysteering wheel of a motorcaras well as automatically by the movement of the steering post, andwhich will be automatically returned to normal position by the turningof. the steering post to normalposition. u n

A further object is to provide a device with which it will notV benecessary for the driver of the motor car to devote his attention tothesignaling device after once starting the same toward the properindicating 'position untilit has been movedto .said position.

A further object yist() provide an improved means for substituting thesignaling device for a radiator cap.

. A further object. is to provide animproved radiator cap.. n.

A further object is to provideimproved mechanism for exhibiting attheSametime alamp, a number plate and a preindicating signal, both of whichlatter` are illuminated by the former. p

Further advantages of my invention will appear kfrom the descriptionthereof and will y be particularly 1pointed out inthe claims. p, i v

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isa verticalgtransverse sectionof .my improved preindicator looking` from the rear; Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 is a section onthe line3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. Aiis alhorizontalmsection on the line 4--4 of Fig.3; Fig.` 5 is a broken side view, i partly in section, showing amodication of thefmeans for securing the preindicator in place; Fig. 6.is-a side view, showing thepreindicator applied to the rear of a car.u

Referrin to` the drawing, 1 indicatesy a radiator tu e, extendingupwardly through y Specification ofwLetters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

Applicationlled September 26, 1916. y Serial yNo. 122,208.

a hole in a radiator casing 2, and adapted to be yclosed by the usualcap, not here shown. @n the top of saidtube 1 is screwed a collar 3having an outwardly extending f iange 1- resting upon theV inwardlyextending flange 6 of a ring 7 which flange and ring rest upon a tube 8surroundingan upwardly extending cylindrical portion 9 of` theradiatorcasing and resting upon the radiator. By screwing said collar 3upon `said tube l, the tube 8 canrbe fitted tight upon the radiatorcasing.

Resting upon the ring 7 is a plate 11, which is held down to extensions12 of said ring by ybolts 13, 14, the bolt 13 being tubular and passingthrough a hole in one extension 12 o f the ring and in the plate andforming a pivot for said plate, and the other bolt ltpassmgthrough ahole in the other extension 12 ofthering and through an openended recess16 in the plate in one edge of the extension thereof, said bolts havingrespectively heads 17 and 18 resting upon the plate, andbeing presseddown by springs 19 coiled around the `bolts and compressed between theunder side of the plate and collars 21 secured on said bolts. The head18 has secured therein depending pins 22,y

holdl the plate in properposition upon the ring. But if the bolt llllandthe head 18 be raised, so that said pins 22 are disengaged from `thesockets 23, then the plate can be swung about the other bolt 13 as itscenter. For this purpose theplate is provided lwitha handle orextensions L24- extending radially from the other bolt 13.y To raise thebolt 14 so as to disengagethe pins 22 from. the sockets `23, there isprovided a lever 25 extendingy laterally in the recess 16 from a pointunderneath` the bolt head 18 over the edge of the adjacent extension ofthe ring 7, and having a hole through which extends a pin k26 dependingfrom the head 18 of the bolt 141, said pin after extending through thehole inthe lever, also extending into a hole 27 in the extension of thering 7. `By depressing the outer end of said lever, the inner end israised, the hole having rounded or enlarged ends to permit of rotarymovement relative to the pin 26, and the head of the bolt is raisedsuiiiciently to raise the pins 22 out of the holes 23 and allow theplate to swing about the other bolt 13 as a center.l

To the plate is secured, by screws 28, a

casting 29 forming the base of the casing 31 of my improvedpreindicator.

In some cars, as, for instance, in Ford cars, the filling tube isattached directly'to the radiator casing, or is integral therewith andhas an internal thread in which is screwed the cap. In this case, asshown in Fig. 5, a tube 32 having external threads is screwed into theinternal threads of the filling tube.

Fig. 6 shows the means of support at the rear of the car. In this case acasting 33 forms a base for the preindicator and has a central dependinglug 34, which is pivoted, as shown at 36, to a standard 37 on a plate 38secured by bolts 39 to the mud guard 41 at the rear of the car,preferably on the left-hand side. A pin 35 is driven through a hole inthe standard and through any one of a circular series of holes 40 (shownin dotted lines) in the lug, to hold the casting in place. On a rearwardextension 42 from said casting 33 is secured a strip 43 carrying a lamp44 and casting 46 to which is removably attached a number plate 47. Thenumber plate is not mounted centrally of said strip, but in such amanner that its outer end does not project beyond -the fender, and isnearer to the strip than the inner end. Y

The means for supporting the .signaling device on the rear end of thecar is of such construction as to fit almost anycar.

The device which takes the place of the ordinary radiator cap is soconstructed as to be adaptable for any style of radiator, the onlypieces that have to be vvaried being the brass ring 3, which may be madelarger or smaller in diameter to fit different sizes of tubes 1, and thetube 8 which may be longer or shorter as needed. Fora' Ford car thethread is formed on the outside of the collar. In fact this device whenused simply as a radiator cap, without carrying the signaling system, ismuch superior `to the ordinary radiator cap, which often becomes looseand rattles and is liable to be lost,whereas the present device isalways held down tightly by spring pressure to close the filling tube.

Upon the base plate are secured thin plates 48 of fiber of greaterlength than width, and upon 4them are laid thicker blocks 49 of fiber ofthe same shape as the plates except that they have therein holes toreceive inner brass tubes 51 surrounding cores 52 of solenoids 53. Thefiber plates 48 and blocks 49 are held down to the base plateV by screws54. Wit-hin the brass tubes at the bottom short cylinders 56 of softsteel are secured to the brass tubes 51 and fiberv blocks 49 bytransverse pins 57. Surrounding the brass tube at the top in order tokeep the solenoid wires 58 in place are collars 59 of fiber secured tothe tubes by pins 61 which penetrate the sides of the tubes, but

do not pass into the interior thereof. In said tubes 51 can reciprocatecores 52, the

upper ends of which are attached to the ends of a leather or otherflexible band 63, secured by a screw 64 to a disk 66 on a shaft 67having its bearingin a post 68 formed integral with the base. y

On said shaft 67 is a hub 69 which extends through the casing 31 and towhich is se? cured an arm 71 in the form of an arrow. In the peripheryof said disk 66 are formed one central notch 72 and two terminal notches73, in any one of which can be v received a vlatch lever 74 pivoted, asshown at 76, on an extension 77of said post 68, said arm beingy alsoconnected by a pin and slot connection 78`to ythe upper end of a fiberblock 79, in iwhich is secured by a cross pin 80, the upper end of abrass rod `81, slidable vertically in a soft steel cylinder 82, andconnected to afsoft steelcore 83,

been pressed, thenby a wire 96 to said pushv button and by wires 97 and98 to the other pole ofthe battery. Thereby the horn is sounded and thesolenoid 86 and said solenoid 53 are energized, causing 'thecorriesponding cores to be attracted, theV latch lever 74 to be releasedand the core 52 to be moved into contact with the cylinder 56, by themagnetic attraction of which it is firmly held. The flexible bandconnected to the core becomes loose on the side connected with the corewhich .has been attracted, and the opposite core still moves upwardly byits own momentum, so that the arrow has a vibratory movement which isVof great advantage in attracting the attention of persons'in front of,or behind, the vehicle. Y

In order to prevent the core from moving too far upward out of thesolenoid there is provided ayoke 101 attached by a screw 102 to the topof the post, and having arms 103 having bumpers 104 which are interposedin the path of the cores and arrest their upward movement. The Varrowwill, after a period of vibration, come to rest with a recess 73slightly past the latch 74, and the arrow is directed in the positionshown by the dotted lines pointing in the lower direction. l Uponremoving the finger fromthe push button, the horn will immediatelyceasesounding and the butt end-of the arrow being'heavier thanv thepointed end, the arrow will swing backward toward its normal position,but it will immediately be arrested, after it has traveled through avery small arc, by the latchentering the recess 7 3 immediately adjacentthereto. The arrow will thenbe directed in the position shown by the`dotted* lines pointing in the up er direction.

t isV of importance that this signaling device should be madeautomatically as well as voluntarily,so that the signal will always beshown'when necessary, even though the driver through lack of care shouldforget to do so. `With this end in view there is attached to thesteering post 106 a plate 107 having fingers 108 which are on oppositesides of a switch 109, pivoted at 111, and having a rearward extension112, controlled by Ia spring 113 tending to bring it always back to acentral position. :Said switch is 'connected by a wire 99 with the wire98, and on opposite sides of said switch are contacts 114, connected bywires 116 with the wires 96. It will be seen that as soon as thesteering post is turned tofturn the machine, one or the other of thefingers 108 engages the switch 109 so as to move it toward one or theother of the contacts 114 and close the circuit through onev or theother of the solenoids.

It will be seen from the above description that the signal may bebrought' back to normal position either by the driver pressing the otherpush button and then at once removing his finger, or automatically, bythe turning of the steering wheel, back to normal position when ytheswitch 109 will be actuated to contact with the other contact contacts126 secured to the tops of the brassv tubes 5l, which contacts areadapted to contact respectively in the descent of the cores 62 withspring contacts 127 supported on the tops of said cores but insulatedtherefrom by insulating material 128 and from which lead wires 129 tothe wires 121.

It will be seen from this construction that if the switch be closed theproper core will be attracted and the proper lamp 123 will beillumina'ted and indicate the direction in whi-ch the driver is `aboutto. turn.

The arrow used herein is colored red except in the central portion ofthe head,

which is colored white, there being left a.

center and followingk thevoutline of the arrow. It is found that anarrow so colored is visible as a signal at agreater distance,

Y either inthe day time orat night, than any red, yet the white portionof the arrow is distinguishable at a greater distance, and its positionin reference ,to the automobile indicates the intention of the driver.

In orderbthat the horn may sound, the driver must keep his finger on thepush button, but it will be observed that when it is not necessary forthis to be done, the arrow `is still pointed in the signaling directionwithout the4 expenditure of any electricity except that required to turnthe signal to the proper position.

For the sake of clearness of illustration, the electrical connectionshave, for the most part, been shown diagrammatically, but the electricwires leading to the horn, suitably located lamps and battery, and thento the solenoids will be contained in a tube 130 leading from the sideof the casing into the hollowpivotal bolt 13, and will pass therefromtothe pushbuttonsl which are located on thel steering wheel, while thecontacts 114 and switch 104 are arranged close to the baseof thesteering post.

`My improved mechanism possesses the advantage :that very littleelectricity is revquired to lbe expended, for, in the first then remainsin that position without the r further expenditure of electricity; and,in the second place, the only work necessary to be done by the solenoidis to lift the extra weight ofthe tail of the arrow which is heavierthan its head. Also the parts carried by the shaft, namely, the hub andarrow onV one side and the disk on the other are arranged to be equallybalanced on both sides of the bearing so that these parts rotate easilyin the bearing.

1. In combination with a rotatable signaling device, twoelectro-magnetic means Jfor respectively rotating said devices inopposite directions, locking means for locking the device when it hasbeen rotated to either signaling position, and unitary means for closingthe circuit through any one of said electro-magnetic means to energizethe same and for withdrawing said locking means from its normalposition, said signaling means when rotated by said electro-magneticmeans swinging past the position in which it can be locked by saidlocking means and being wei hted to return when free from the control osaid electro-magnetic means.

2. In combination with a vibratory di- -rection-indic'ating' device,lsolenoids kand cores operatively connected to said indicating device tomove the saine, When the cores are attracted, in opposite directions`respectively, said operative connections permitting therefor pivoted toswing in a horizontal plane on one side of the radiator lilling tube,

the device to move independently of said cores. i

' 3. In combination Witha vibratory direction-indicating device,solenoids and cores operatively connected to said indicating device tomove the same, when the cores are attracted, in opposite directionsrespectively,

-said oaerative connections aermittinfy the device to move independentlyof said cores, and means for locking said'device in its indicatingposition when the core Vis no longer attracted. Y Y

4L. In combination With a vibratory direction-indicating device,soleiioids and cores `operatively connected tosaid indicating device tomove the same, when the cores are attracted, in opposite directionsrespectively, said operative` connections permitting the device to moveindependently of said cores, and means controllable both automaticallyand voluntarily. for energizing either solenoid as desired.. f

5. In combination with a' vibratory direction-indicating device,solenoids and cores operatively connected to said indicating device tomove the same, ivhen the coresare attracted, in opposite directionsrespectively, said operative connections permitting the device to moveindependently of said cores, and means controllable both automaticallyneid.

Withdraw said locking device from its locking position.

6. In combinationiivith a Vradiatoita cap said pivot being hollow,vsprings for depressing said cap to close said filling tu-be,electromagneticV signaling devices supported.

by Said cap, and a tube extending from said devices through the pivot ofsaid cap and through which lead theelectric Wires which conduct thecurrents to said electro-magnetic devices..

pointer mounted .on ay shaft 'to :extend above and beloiv its Vaxis ofrotation andso balanced thereon tliatit is normally upright ypassingover thepointer shaft for suspension of the plungers, the plungers beingAVmaintained normally in equilibrium, the

plungers and the pointer, each, being balanced ontlie same ,axis ofsuspension to produce avfcoperating suspension balance between theplungers and pointers, and

means -or directing a current suHicient to overcome the balance througheither sole- Y' EDWARD HYHEBERN,

. v f r5.0 `7An automobile signal comprising aV

